Paper file



Jul 21, 1925.

E. FOWLER v PAPER FILE Filed April 16, 1923 EdWLnEbu/Zer da T Patented July 21, 1925,

UNITED STATES EDWIN FOWLER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

PAPER FILE.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN Fownuu, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Kansas City, county of Jackson, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Paper Files, of which the following is a complete specification.

This invention relates to flexible files for holding papers or documents of letter or legal cap size, and more especially to files equipped to clamp firmly in place at one edge a relatively thick or bulky mass of such papers, and to insure a relatively long and firm grip upon them all at substantially the same distance from the adjacent side margin of each.

More specifically the object, in the production of a file of the character outlined, is to provide for the use of relatively thin paper for purposes of economy, conservation of space, and because it can be set to avoid any material tendency to push the upper papers of the bulky package away from the binding edge of the file, as impracticable with paper of sufficient thickness to successfully resist any tendency to bow up at the middle or car up at the corners.

The invention is designed as an improvement in the respects mentioned, on the paper file on which Patent No. 639,721, was issued on the 26th day of December, 1899. A file embodying the construction of the patented one referred to, is objectionable in that it was too flimsy unless made of very heavy paper, in which case it was incapable of holding a relatively large mass of papers or documents securely because the upper ones were crowded back from the binding edge and thus not clamped firmly in place; and because the clamping devices had a tendency to apply a pushing force for dislodging the papers or the topmost ones of a package, and when forced completely home to their ultimate position, exerted pressure at relatively small and restricted points, for holding the mass of papers in the file against slippage or dislodgment. Another objection to said clamps is that they are of such configuration that the stress to, which they are subjected is at one side of the hinge or fulcrum Application filed April 16, 1923. Serial No. 632,282.

point of the clamp so that the resistance to the clamping action has a tendency to distort to twist the clamping arms.

W ith the object of producing a file and clamping element therefor possessing the advantages set forth, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of con struction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the inner side of a paper file embodying the invention, the same being shown with two clamping clips one in operative and the other in inoperative position;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a fragment of the file when open and ready to receive a single paper or document or a mass of papers or documents, the binding edge of the file standing at right angles to the body portion so as to determine the position in the file of the paper or papers;

Figure 3 is a section on an enlarged scale, taken on the line III III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a similar section, but showing the file in closed or operative position and holding therein a mass of papers or documents;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of one corner of the binding edge of the file with the clamping clip in operative position; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of a blank which when bent to produce two superposed T- shaped members, constitutes one of the clips of the file.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the body of the file is of substantially rectangular form and is creased along the line 1 to produce the back 2 and the cover 3. The latter may be provided with an index tab 4, and the former prior to the completion of the file with a tapered extension 4", this extension being located at the binding edge of the file.

At the junction of the back 2 with its ex.- tension l, there will be a fold to produce a flap, and this flap is provided with parallel fold lines 5 and 6 (the latter preferably in the form of a series of adjacent creases), to

produce the portions 7, 8 and 9, the latter portion being adapted to be fitted flatly against the inner face of the back and secured thereto preferably by a suitable adhesive not shown. The fold first-mentioned is a sharp fold and the same is true of the fold on the line The fold on theline 6 is relatively a wide fold and is preferably produced by a plurality of closely adjacent creases as indicated most clearly by dotted lines in Figure 1, so that when the paper is folded along said line, it will not fold sharply but will fold over a sufiiciently wide area to accommodate a relatively thick mass of papers or documents, as shown clearly by reference to Figure 4-. If desired, the double or reinforcement portions 8 and 9 may be in the form of a strip of paper or the like attached at the free margin of portion 8 to the flap 7, at the free edge thereof.

Each clamping element or clip, inthe blank, is of I-shape substantially and is bent midway the length of the stem 10 as at 11, to produce a pair of T-shaped heads 12 and 13, the free end of the head of member 13 being deflected 0r bent as at let to facilitate the engagement of the clamping element with the file when necessary to secure one or more papers therein. At the corresponding end of the head of members 12, a perforated arm 15 projects angularly with re- .spect to the stem, and this arm is adapted to be fitted through one of the slits 16 provided in the back of the file below the reinforcing portion 9, the said slits extending: at right angles to the adjacent edge of the binding; edge of the file for the greater part of their length and then curving sharply into the first fold lines of the file, as at l'i', where it is interposed between the back and the said reinforcement of the file, and is pivotally secured to the back and said rein forcement by a rivet 18. The rivets 18 of the two clamps may be relied on to hold the reinforcement 9 flatly on the back, but it 1s preferable to also secure'said part to the back by a suitableadhesive, as its edges when the reinforcement is glued into position are not liable to stand up and interfere with the ready slippage of sheetsinto the file.

The arm 15 of each clamp or clip is of such proportion and bears such relation to the sprmg hinge fold 11, that the heads, when in inoperative position, stand wholly beyond the binding edge of the file and thus permit the hingred flap to stand upright (see Figure 3) so that it may form a sat-re for abutmentby corresponding: edges of all papers or documents inserted in the file.

lVhen a clamp or clip is swung to operative position, the spring hinge by abutting the file at the first fold line thereof, disposes the free edge of the heads parallel with the binding edge of the file, so that they may bear for the full length of their free edges, upon the file in the plane parallel with the axis of the hinge points of the clampscr clips, the result being the pressure applied by the free ec ges of the heads 15 un form for the full length thereof and no twisting strain is imposed on the hinge folds tending to weaken and eventually cause them to exert pressure greater at one end of the heads than at the other end, this result of course minimizing their elficacy in retaining papers against accidental displacement in the file.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a flexible file embodying; the features of advantage set forth as desirable in the statement of the object of the invention, and which may be modified in minor particulars without departing from the principle of construction and mode of operation involved.

1. A flexible sheet file, having a binding flap at one edge, and one or more resilient clamps to press the flap toward the body of the file, each clamp comprisingsuperposed. T-shaped portions, the stems thereof having a resilient connection parallel with and at uniform distances from the free edges of the heads of said portions; the lower head of each clamp having an angle arm pivoted to the body of the file in a plane intermediate the resilient connection and head and beyond the adjacent end of the la j- 2'. A flexible sheet file, having a binding flap at one edge, and oneor more resili clamps to press the flap toward the body of the file, each clamp comprising superposed T-shaped portions, the stems thereof having a resilient connection parallel with and at uniform distances from the free edges of the heads of said portionsi the lower head of each clamp having an angle arm pivoted to the body of the file in a plane intermediate the resilient connection Y and head and beyond the adjacent end of the latter. the end of the upper heads nearest the said arms respectively, being turned upward to facilitate engagement with the said flap.

3. A flexible sheet file provided with a folding flap for binding purposes, a reinforcement having a wide fold and flatly secured inward of said fold to the inner face of the file near the folding flap, the reinforcement at the other side of the wide fold being, permanently united to the free edge of the flap.

4. A flexible sheet file, sharply folded lengthwise to provide a marginal flap. and again folded at an intermediate point of the flap in the line parallel with the first fold, the flap being reversely folded over a relatively wide area approximately coincidental with the first fold, and the ergtremity being permanently secured to the body portion of of the lower head and provided With a perthe file. foration at a point intermediate the parallel 10 5. In a flexible file, a clam of'resilient lines occupied by the heads and the resilient fiat metal, comprising a pair of superposed connection respectively. a

5 T-shaped members resiliently connected at In Witness whereof I hereunto aflix my the base of the stem portions, in a line parsignature. allel with the heads of said members, and an arm projecting angularly from one end EDWIN FOWLER. 

